After a couple of hours of roaming the streets of New York, I am sure you have built an appetite!
Where to eat
I love getting a good all-American lunch in while I check my social media when I’m travelling in the States.
Fried Chicken: Nothing sounds more American to me than a plate of fried chicken and mac and cheese just like your mama made it (if your mom were extremely skilled and from the South). For the ultimate plate of comfort food I like to head over to Bobwhite Counter for the Fried Chicken Supper and a side of Mac and Cheese. I am yet to have a decent plate of M&C here in the UAE so if you have a recommendation, please comment below. I’ve dined at their Ave. C location - an intimate spot with a super friendly and efficient waitress- but for a change of scenery I would recommend their West Village location.
Burger: If you’re adventurous when it comes to your burger meat and toppings, I would recommend you stop by Bareburger on Williamson. I had the El Matador and believe me when I say that this is one place where you will not need to order any sides as the burgers are huge and delicious! For those who love bacon but can’t have pork, they serve duck bacon as well. As a bonus, all burger meats are organic, raised humanely and free of gluten, antibiotics and hormones (according to their site).
Pizza: You can’t leave New York without having a slice of pizza, and if you’re in Brooklyn, you may want to answer the age-old question: what’s better Juliana’s or Grimaldi’s. As fate would have it, these pizza powerhouses are located back-to-back on Old Fulton. Be warned- whichever you choose- that the lines are quite long at both pizzerias. Make sure to stand in the right line before you committing to the 45+ minute wait. I personally chose to try Juliana’s and in order to skip the line for the pie, I called ahead and place an order on the phone, which I then picked up in-person.
What to do
West Village: One of my absolute favorite things to do in the city is to spend some time on the Highline, and it doesn’t hurt that it is super-close to Chelsea Market where you can shop for unique art pieces and jewelry while munching on some delicious snacks. The view is just stunning from here.
Tribeca: After munching on an alternative burger, you will need to spend some time walking around as you digest. I would recommend visiting the World Trade Center Memorial as it is such a calm and serene place but it is also quite impactful. It is a tasteful and beautifully made monument of remembrance- I did not visit the museum on-site but it seems like a good way to spend a rainy day. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, I would recommend a stroll in Battery Park.
Brooklyn: When in DUMBO you can’t help but take the famous photo of the bridge between the skyscrapers (above) but please watch the traffic! Once you’ve risked your life, I recommend that you walk around and enjoy the water view and the interesting public art installations, which make for some fun group poses. Of course, if you have the space in your tummy, stop by Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for some sugary goodness.
This is part of a three-part series, you can also learn what to do in New York during the morning and evening.
